Cherokee Schools Weighing School Reopening Plan Options

CHEROKEE COUNTY, GA — The Cherokee County School Board held its May meeting Thursday virtually and streamed online, heard school reopening plans and a budget update.

Superintendent of Schools Brian Hightower said, while the goal is to reopen schools in person on Aug. 3, it may not be achievable.

“We do not know what the state of public health will be three months from now, so, while we are cautiously optimistic in relation to our plans for an in-person return to school, we need to also have contingencies for a possible delayed start and the potential need for continued Digital Learning Days,” Hightower said.

He has tasked Chief Operations Officer Debra Murdock with gathering information and feedback on several reopening options for next school year, including a cost analysis, for opening in person in August, either on Aug. 3 or a delayed start, with an increased focus on health and wellness including: frequent disinfecting of high-touch areas, temperature checks, signage about hand-washing and similar wellness musts, smaller groups of students at each lunch seating, and other measures. While this potential option still is in development, and will be reviewed along with other options by an ad hoc committee of staff, parents and community partners led by Murdock, initial budget adjustments for additional custodial service, cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment are estimated at $2.25 million.

Hightower has charged Chief Academic Officer Nicole Holmes with preparing new virtual training sessions for teachers over the summer to increase their online teaching capabilities. Plans already are underway by Holmes and her Office Curriculum & Instruction team to expand upon the current emergency model to one that provides more interaction with teachers and extends learning throughout traditional school day hours.

Given the significant impact continued Digital Learning Days would have on families, and how disruptive a hybrid of a partial in-person and virtual learning option can be for working parents, Hightower said he will not make a determination about the reopening of schools until July 1 at the earliest. Hightower reiterated that he and his leadership team will be extremely sensitive to students, parents and employees as a plan for reopening is developed and implemented.

The July 1 date is the same one he will use for determining whether the tentatively scheduled in-person graduation ceremonies in late July will take place as is, or in-person with attendance limitations, or held virtually instead.

As previously announced, Cherokee high schools will hold parades on their campuses on Friday, May 29, as a special additional celebration to congratulate graduating seniors and their families.

“Thankfully we have two and a half months to do our due diligence and see how all this [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other such] guidance shakes out,” School Board member Mike Chapman said of the district’s plan to review all recommendations, including as they continue to evolve, before developing a localized plan.

BUDGET UPDATE

The school board also heard a report on anticipated revenue forthe district’s next fiscal year, which begins July 1. As previously reported to the school board, district employees and families, the possible state education funding cuts of 14 percent will mean a $32 million shortfall for Cherokee Schools that likely cannot be bridged without further operational, programmatic and personnel cost reductions.

“We are committed to presenting our school board with a balanced budget that minimizes any negative impact on our students’ learning and our employees’ compensation, which at this time tentatively calls for a step increase as represented in the staff’s current cost analysis," Hightower said. "At the same time, we will base this budget on the school board’s commitment to keep the property tax rate steady with no increases. That’s a challenging task, but it’s critically important, and my senior staff and I are up to the challenge.”

The state legislature will not convene until June at the earliest to set its budget, but Hightower last month tasked his senior staff with making cuts to central office operations and freezing all new hiring in order to lessen the need for possible furloughs. During the meeting, he detailed these numerous budget cuts, which are posted online.

With these cuts and other budget adjustments, along with $3.7 million in Federal CARES Act funds allotted in response to the pandemic and continued improvements in local property values, the anticipated budget gap would shrink to $8.2 million before furlough days (a closer look is posted online here). The school district did realize $3 million in net cost avoidance as a result of the school closures, which has been moved to reserves and could possibly be used to further lessen the impact of state cuts. The majority of the district’s day-to-day budget is spent on staff compensation, with a daily operations’ price tag of $1.5 million.

Chief of Staff Mike McGowan and Chief Financial Officer Kenneth Owen both shared reports on the issue with the school board.

“The 14 percent number is fluid and may be adjusted either up or down depending upon April revenue reports, possible statutory provisions (such as an increase in the tobacco tax), adjustments to tax credits, adjustments to voucher statutes, etc.,” McGowan said. “Additionally, the state coffers may see an influx from another round of stimulus funds and from the receipt of the delayed state income taxes, which were deferred to July. Unfortunately, the bottom line determination on the likely austerity reduction is a waiting game, as all of this unfolds over the next five weeks.”

As soon as more detailed information is provided by the state government, Hightower said he would update the school board and prepare a finalized recommended budget. The budget usually is presented to the school board in May, with three public hearings and a vote to adopt it held in June. Due to the state delay, the Cherokee Schools budget likely will not be presented to the school board until June or July. As the fiscal year begins July 1, Hightower said he anticipates the need for a spending resolution to continue operations until that time.

“Without the state’s finalized budget, it’s something of a targeted guess, so I appreciate all the work that has gone into this,” School Board Chair Kyla Cromer said following the presentation.

Related: School Reopening Plan In Works By GA Superintendent, Gov. Kemp